Nuttin' with nothin'

Ben was woken at six in the morning by a hand shaking his shoulder.

Normally, he would curse. On a Saturday especially, he would protest, complain, and roll over. Today, he didn’t. He lacked the energy.

The night before, he had fallen asleep watching a YouTube documentary about rich young people and how they made their money. He loved those videos. He waited for the parts that talked about secret cults, sacrifices, and deals with the devil.

“Hmph,” he had muttered. “I’d never do that.”

The hand shook him again.

“Chief!”

Ben squinted up at Ryan.

“Nikona mbogi iko hapa chini,” Ryan said quickly. “Wanakuja juu tuendeleze sherehe.”

Before Ben could reply, Ryan was already heading for the door.

“Si utafanya ma one two ivi kusikae vile kunakaa,” he added.

He was gone.

Ben sat up.

Cold air slid through the tear in his old boxers. He scratched himself and stood, folding the duvet he had been using for weeks. It smelled, but he barely noticed. The apartment always did.

He shuffled toward the bedroom as laughter echoed down the hallway. Ryan peeked in briefly, nodded in approval, and shut the door.

Ben lay back on the bed and opened his phone.

Inspirational videos filled the screen.

Young men in designer suits. Private jets. Motivational quotes.

The same influencers he had once called occultists.

One day, he told himself, that would be him.

Outside, the living room glowed with light from the giant TV.

Music blasted. Women danced on the screen. Plastic cups were filled with cheap liquor. Three girls sat close to Ryan and his friends, laughing too loudly.

They were DJs. This was normal.

Ryan leaned toward one of the girls and whispered something. She giggled. Moments later, they slipped out to the balcony.

He closed the door.

She guided his hands to her waist.

They kissed as the sun began to rise.

Behind the kitchen curtain, someone watched.

Ben scrolled endlessly on TikTok, restless.

Then the bedroom door creaked open.

A bearded man stumbled in and collapsed onto the bed, still wearing sunglasses.

“Shenzi,” Ben muttered. “Hakioni niko hapa?”

He stood, changed into shorts, and slipped out.

He almost made it unnoticed.

Almost.

“Alaa! Where’d you come from, cutey?” one of the girls called.

Every head turned.

Ben waved weakly and hurried into the kitchen.

He brewed coffee, adding just enough milk. He was careful with everything.

He had to be.

He didn’t pay rent. He didn’t buy groceries. He had lost his job months ago.

Ryan was carrying him.

He lifted the cup when he noticed two figures outside the window.

The balcony.

He winced.

“No shame,” he whispered.

He took a sip.

The kitchen door opened.

The girl who had greeted him earlier slipped in and closed it.

She smiled.

“What’s your name?”

“Ben.”

“I’m Fidelma. Call me Elma.”

She moved closer.

“Come take shots.”

“I’m okay.”

She laughed. “Why?”

“I like your shorts.”

He glanced down.

“What material is that?” she asked, touching his thigh.

His breath caught.

“Cotton… I think.”

She stepped closer. He noticed the small beauty spot on her chin.

Her hand slid upward.

“Oh my God. Samesy.”

“What?”

“I’m not wearing underwear either.”

She placed his hand on her waist.

His heart began to race.

He set the cup down carefully.

Elma kissed him. Her breath tasted of alcohol and cheap spirits. She pressed against him, her hand moving lower.

Outside, music thumped. Laughter rose and fell. Someone shouted.

Inside, everything narrowed.

He held her. She pulled him closer. Instinct took over.

They clung to each other against the sink.

Afterward, leaning back, breathless, a thought cut through the haze.

He had seen her before.

Instagram.

One of those socialites. One of the women he criticized. One of the “empty” ones.

He had judged them. Preached morality. Pretended superiority.

Now he stood here, stripped of all that.

No principles. No standards. No excuses.

Just desire.

Just weakness.

He stared at his cooling coffee.

All the envy. All the pretending. All the dreams.

For this.

For nothing.

Nutting with nothing.